Fruit-Filled Dessert: Decorative Layer Cake

When spring hits and the days get longer and brighter, it is hard not to want to celebrate. In Minnesota, winter feels like it lasts forever because it really is that long.

So very, very long.

When we finally start seeing the snow melting and the sun shining it is the perfect time to bake a cake and live it up! (Any excuse for me to bake). And what better cake than one that is light and fruity and just looks like spring? I got inspired by the Simply Citrus Cream Cake from Kraft but I put my own twist on it.

I have a baking buddy in my five year old son Warren. Baking without him makes him sad and looking at this recipe, I knew it would be one he would enjoy. There were plenty of ingredients to mix together and he did a great job helping me!

With just a simple pineapple cake mix some special additions like orange zest and sour cream, we created a fruity cake. After the batter was mixed together, the scents of pineapple and orange were impossible for him to resist. The batter smelled delicious!

Once the cakes had finished baking, it was super easy to create a delicious filling using COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, JELL-O Lemon Flavor Instant Pudding, milk and mandarin oranges. I stacked and filled the cakes, topping them with extra mandarin oranges for garnish.

Stack cake layers on plate, filling with half each of the COOL WHIP mixture and oranges. (Consider breaking up half the mandarin oranges and folding into the whipped topping for the middle layer). Frost top with remaining COOL WHIP mixture. Garnish with remaining oranges.

Keep refrigerated.

By using a decorative cake stand it made the cake stand out and seem even more special. I love having special serving pieces. Desserts always look taste better from fancy dishes, don't they?

I created a flower or sunburst pattern on the top with the mandarin oranges but placing them randomly on the top would have worked just as well.

Feel free to change up the flavors within the cake or pudding. A vanilla or yellow cake mix with JELL-O Lemon Flavor Instant Pudding or orange cake with JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding would also taste delicious. Experimenting is half the fun.

The hardest part will be resisting a second slice!

Get your spring baking on with Kraft! Be sure to check out all the great recipes at Kraft and don't forget to follow them via Facebook and Twitter to stay connected.